3 Things You Need To Know About Playing Sports In Contact Lenses
Authorities estimate that more than 30 million Americans rely on contact lenses for clear vision. Contact lenses are often considered more convenient than eyeglasses for athletes, but there are some important things to keep in mind if you want to stay safe while playing sports in your contact lenses.
Here are 3 things to remember the next time you compete in your contact lenses.
1. Invest in daily disposable contact lenses to wear during competition.
Many sports require athletes to come into contact with one another. While these contact sports can be thrilling, they also have the potential to dislodge a contact lens. When you make the choice to wear daily disposable lenses during competition, losing a contact lens is no great calamity.
Since you would have replaced the lens with a new one the following day anyway, you aren't out any money on the lens lost while you engaged in a contact sport. Be sure that you have a supply of daily disposable contact lenses on hand if you plan to participate in contact sports on a regular basis.
2. Avoid wearing your contact lenses in the swimming pool.
Few activities provide the type of low impact exercise you get while swimming, making swimming a popular sport. If you enjoy taking laps in the pool, you might want to consider leaving your contact lenses behind. As the chlorinated water comes into contact with your contact lens, the lens can absorb the chlorine. This leads to irritation that can last long after you leave the pool.
In addition to the discomfort that can come from swimming in contact lenses, leaving your contacts in while you swim can also be dangerous. Contacts provide the perfect environment for bacterial growth, which can lead to infection. Consider investing in prescription goggles if you swim frequently.
3. Reduce glare by investing in tinted contact lenses.
Athletes who play outdoors often have to battle the glare of the sun in order to perform their best. Reducing the sun's glare through tinted contact lenses could increase your chances of winning in the future.
Contact lenses that are amber or gray-green help to filter out light rays that might distract you from the game. These tinted lenses can even be purchased in non-prescription varieties, allowing athletes with perfect vision to experience the glare-reducing benefits they provide.
Wearing contact lenses while playing sports widens your field of vision, and helps you enjoy an unobstructed view of the playing field. By investing in daily disposable contact lenses, leaving your contacts at home when you swim, and utilizing tinted lenses on sunny days, you can use contact lenses to improve your performance as an athlete in the future.
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